Storm Darragh latest: Two killed as destructive winds near 100mph

Network Rail have told passengers in the south east to expect widespread disruption today as high winds continue to batter the country.

Strong winds associated with Storm Darragh will continue to ease gradually but yellow rain and wind warnings remain in place throughout Sunday.

• Some bus and train services affected, with some journeys taking longer
• Some delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport expected
• Some short term loss of power and other services
• Coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and/or large waves
• Bus and train services probably affected with journey times taking longer
• Flooding of a few homes and businesses is likely

The Met Office said heavy rain was expected to persist in central and eastern parts of England throughout Sunday, with 20-25mm forecast to fall across much of the country.

As much as 60mm could fall over high ground of the Cheviots, Pennines and North York Moors.

Wightlink said the 8am car ferry sailing from Portsmouth and 9am from Fishbourne were cancelled, along with the 7.15am and 8.15am Fastcat services from Portsmouth Harbour and the 7.45am and 8.45am services from Ryde Pier Head.

More strong winds are set to batter much of the UK after Storm Darragh swept through the country.

Gusts of up to 80mph could hit Northern Ireland until 6am on Sunday, before a fresh yellow Met Office wind warning comes into force across much of England and Wales.

More widely there are likely to be gusts of 35-45mph inland, even reaching 70mph around coasts during the morning.

It means that further travel disruption and power cuts are likely until 6pm, the Met Office said.

The Environment Agency has in force 64 flood warnings for areas it believes flooding is expected – with many located on the border between Wales and England.

A spokesperson said: “Local flooding from rivers and surface water is probable in parts of the West Midlands, North East and North West England on Sunday.

“Local flooding may continue into Monday and Tuesday along parts of the River Severn in Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire until Tuesday. Land, roads and some properties could flood and there could be travel disruption.”

Beyond the weather warnings for Monday, the Met Office says it will become more settled into the start of the week.

A spokesperson said there will be light winds for many and staying mainly dry.

However, they added that it will turn increasingly cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle lingering along the north and south coast.

So strong were the winds in Northern Ireland on Saturday that footage caught a waterfall flowing upwards.

This video was taken in Coleraine in Northern Ireland where winds reached 62mph on Saturday.

Energy Networks Association said 259,000 customers across England, Scotland and Wales were without power as of Saturday evening.

It said that 80 per cent of homes affected by the storm have been reconnected.

The Environment Agency had 56 flood warnings in place in England on Saturday evening, meaning flooding is expected.

As part of our coverage on Storm Darragh, we’ve reported on the deaths of two men.

Earlier on Saturday, one man died after a tree fell onto his van in Lancashire.

The man, in his 40s, was driving his Citroen vehicle on the A59 at Longton, near Preston, at about 9am on Saturday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Later, West Midlands Police said another man had died in the storm.

The latest victim was killed when a tree fell and hit his car on Silver Birch Road, Erdington, on Saturday afternoon.

Sergeant Benjamin Parsons, of the roads policing unit, said: “Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this time, and his next of kin have been informed.”

The road was closed with drivers urged to avoid the area.